On April 20, the world's first diesel engine with a thermal efficiency of more than 53% was released at the 2024 World Internal Combustion Engine Conference in Tianjin. In the 127 years since the advent of diesel engines, thermal efficiency improvement has always been the crown jewel of scientific and technological research. Now, this pearl has been won by Weichai Power again.
Almost all those who know Weichai have heard the phrase "if you don't fight for the first place, you are mixing". Since Chairman Tan Xuguang took the helm, Weichai has grown from a single engine enterprise to a world-class industrial equipment group in more than 20 years. Heavy Duty Engines, Gearboxes, Axles, Heavy Trucks, Agricultural Equipment...... Weichai Group has conquered the city in every market segment, and its sales volume has created a number of national and even global firsts, and it has won the honor of "first" and "first" in the field of technology.
It's hard to start a business, and it's equally hard to keep a business. When it has become the "first", it is necessary to "protect the first", and between the role changes, Weichai has not slackened at all.
Weichai Power released the world's first diesel engine with a body thermal efficiency of 53.09%.
Four breakthroughs in four years, Weichai spoke out for China's manufacturing
Since Weichai released the first diesel engine with a thermal efficiency of 50.23%, everyone knows that the time for Weichai to make the next breakthrough will not be too far away. Indeed, in 2022, Weichai once again increased the thermal efficiency of the diesel engine body to 51.09%, and again to 52.28% in the same year.
Now the thermal efficiency of the diesel engine body has been increased to 53.09%, four steps in four years, although the industry has expectations, but the speed is really a bit unexpected. After all, the more R&D you go to the deep waters, the more difficult it is, and every breakthrough in the thermal efficiency of diesel engines is a challenge to the limit. But Weichai can always create miracles!
In order to solve the extremely complex system engineering of improving the thermal efficiency of diesel engines, Weichai has carried out a full range of technological innovation based on the forward R&D process of B701, from the underlying architecture of the internal combustion engine to the detailed components and then to the core system. On the basis of 52% thermal efficiency diesel engine, a major breakthrough in basic research and original development has been achieved around the four major systems of combustion, air, fuel and friction, and four key core technologies such as high expansion combustion technology, mixed-flow supercharging technology, high-efficiency fuel injection technology and low-resistance friction reduction technology have been innovatively developed. In the process of research and development, 176 invention patents and 68 utility model patents have been authorized.
Looking at the world, improving thermal efficiency is not what Weichai is doing, competing with the world's top level players, Weichai's technological breakthrough has pushed China's diesel engine technology level to the forefront of the world! Equally important, the performance of the whole machine, vehicle, ship, power generation equipment and other products depend on engine support, and the basic breakthrough in engine technology means that the level of China's overall equipment manufacturing industry will take another big step forward. Weichai's strong "core" is dirty, so that Made in China has the confidence to make a strong voice on the international stage!
He Nobe, Vice President of TÜV SÜD North Asia, an international authoritative testing organization, issued a test report to Weichai Power
Realization of scientific and technological achievements Weichai makes the market and society win-win
It is difficult to do scientific research, it is difficult to tackle technical problems, and it is also difficult to realize technological achievements. For manufacturing enterprises, R&D is not a show of skills, and the results cannot be an exhibit placed in the laboratory for people to enjoy.
What Weichai does best is monetizing its technological achievements. Previously, Weichai's high-thermal efficiency engine was put into the market, and the product power was quickly transformed into user dividends, and a 49-ton heavy truck could save a car after five or six years of use, and this kind of operation myth abounded. The release of the 53% thermal efficiency diesel engine means that Weichai will once again increase the operating income of users. According to the calculation that the heavy-duty tractor runs 250,000 kilometers a year, the new product can save about 12,000 liters of diesel every year, and the current diesel market price is 7.8 yuan per liter, which can save about 98,000 yuan for the owner a year.
An Tie, chairman of China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd., a professional testing institution for internal combustion engines in China, became Weichai Power and issued a test certificate
At the same time, another important data is that according to the current measurement of China's diesel engine ownership, compared with the 45% ~ 46% thermal efficiency level, the economy of 53% thermal efficiency diesel engine is increased by about 14%, which can save about 31 million tons of fuel and reduce carbon emissions by about 97 million tons per year. With the promotion and application of this innovative achievement, Weichai will lead the green and low-carbon development of the industry and profoundly affect the strategic adjustment of China's multi-energy structure.
With scientific and technological innovation to generate new quality productivity, what Weichai is doing is to become a technology leader in the equipment manufacturing industry, but also a value creator.
R&D is willing to work hard, products can create market value, and then drive sales growth, and then invest profits in R&D, Weichai is walking in an enviable positive cycle. Determined to be the first, when will Weichai's next major technological breakthrough in thermal efficiency be? It may be difficult to predict the specific time, but Weichai, which is on the right path, is not far from surprising the industry again!